Medically reviewed by Anju Goel, MD Pain under the left rib cage is common, and several health conditions can cause it. Discomfort in this area can range from mild to severe and may occur with other ...

Sharp, dull, or aching pain on one or both sides of the rib cage. Pain while breathing, coughing, or moving. Tenderness or swelling in the affected area. Muscle stiffness or tension.

[3] The Rib Cage Stiffens the Thoracic Spine in a Cadaveric Model with Body Weight Load Under Dynamic Moments. Journal of the Mechanical Behaviour of Biomedical Materials (2018).